Marchers call for sidewalks on stretch they say dangerous for kids

Friday

Oct 31, 2008 at 12:01 AM

STOCKTON - About 40 students, parents and community members carried signs and chanted slogans early Thursday as they marched along Alpine Avenue, asking the city - or somebody - to install sidewalks and make the trip safer for children walking to and from Harrison Elementary School each day.

Roger Phillips

STOCKTON - About 40 students, parents and community members carried signs and chanted slogans early Thursday as they marched along Alpine Avenue, asking the city - or somebody - to install sidewalks and make the trip safer for children walking to and from Harrison Elementary School each day.

The primary area in question is a 200-yard stretch of Alpine, near El Pinal Drive and west of Sanguinetti Lane. A vacant lot, owned by a Pleasanton developer, sits there and does not have a sidewalk in front of it. There also are several existing homes without sidewalks along the same stretch.

Students walk on the shoulder of Alpine on the way to Harrison, and parents are concerned one could be hit by a car, especially if a westbound driver pulls onto the shoulder to avoid a stopped car waiting to make a left onto El Pinal.

"With winter approaching, we don't have too much time, " said Kennetha Stevens, a Harrison parent and community organizer with People and Congregations Together. "It's going to be muddy and children will be side by side with cars."

A city official said Thursday that the responsibility for the curb, gutter and sidewalk in front of the vacant lot belongs to its Pleasanton-based owner, Mission Valley Properties. The responsibility for the improvements in front of the existing homes is less clear, Stockton engineering services manager Gregg Meissner said.

As for Mission Valley, Meissner said the company subdivided the land for a development in 2006, but no work has begun. Meissner said the company posted a $740,000 bond at the time guaranteeing the improvements.

Florence Low of the city manager's office said attempts to reach Mission Valley have been unsuccessful, and the company did not return a phone message from The Record on Thursday. Meissner said the city ultimately could begin proceedings to claim the $740,000.

"It is not a fast process," Meissner said.

Mayoral candidate and councilman Clem Lee, whose district includes the area, accompanied the marchers Thursday morning. He preached patience for those demanding improvements, and said one option might be pursuit of a federal "safe routes to school" grant.

"We're all concerned," Lee said. "The trick is finding the funds to do it."